Philippines typhoon: Brits among those missing

The British public have raised more than 33 millions pounds for the Philippines relief effort. Picture: Getty

A NUMBER of Britons are missing following the devastating typhoon in the Philippines, Foreign Secretary William Hague has confirmed.

The news that a “number of British nationals remained unaccounted for” came as it emerged that donations to the UK’s Typhoon Haiyan charity appeal have reached £33 million.

Among those feared dead is Colin Bembridge, 61, from Grimsby, who was staying with his Filipino partner Maybelle, 35, and their three-year-old daughter Victoria near the city of Tacloban when the storm struck.

Channel 4 News said Mr Bembridge had been visiting his girlfriend’s relatives and had hired a beach house in Baybay, one of the ravaged coastal villages.

The mother of Mr Bembridge’s partner, 79-year-old Lydia, showed the programme the wreckage of the beach house where her daughter and granddaughter had been staying and said they had not been seen since the powerful typhoon struck eight days ago.

A Foreign Office spokesman said Mr Hague spoke on the phone to Philippines Secretary for Foreign Affairs Albert Ferreros Del Rosario this afternoon to offer his condolences.

“The Foreign Secretary confirmed that a number of British nationals remained unaccounted for,” he added.

“He asked that every possible assistance be given to any British people caught up in the disaster.”